How to read personal care labels

Look for plants and minerals. Choose products—from skin care to oral hygiene—that contain plant-derived oils or butters, enzymes, and extracts. Safe and effective, these plant ingredients act as natural emollients, exfoliants, antibacterial agents, preservatives, and more. When choosing makeup or sunscreen, look for nontoxic minerals titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. And remember: As with food labels, the higher an ingredient appears in the list, the more of it is in the product.

Question unfamiliar ingredients. Long ingredient names tend to be red flags, particularly when not followed by a common name in parentheses (natural plant and vitamin names often appear both ways). Avoid these worst-offending toxins: oxybenzone, triclosan, phthalates, and parabens. [For more details, search cosmeticsdatabase.com.]

Pinpoint efficacy. To find the research-backed ingredients best suited to your goal, research options before heading to the store; then check labels—and be sure those ingredients are high on the list. Some terms to look for: hyaluronic acid, coenzyme Q10, pine bark extract, resveratrol, and collagen (for anti-aging); omega-3s, ceramides, jojoba, and shea (for moisturizing); and probiotics, tea tree oil, and vitamin A (for acne). If the product label displays a smartphone-activated QR code, do some research in the aisle.

Be certification savvy. If organic ingredients are a priority, opt for USDA Organic, USDA Made with Organic Ingredients, or NSF/ANSI 305 labels. For natural, look for NPA or NSF/Natrue’s natural certification is in progress; check for updates at deliciousliving.com. Other certifications to consider: Fair Trade, Cruelty-Free, Vegan, or Cradle to Cradle for sustainability.

Discuss this Article 2

Anonymous

on Aug 3, 2011

Please review the legal labeling requirements for personal care products. You will find that including the common name or ingredient source in a parenthesis after the established INCI ingredient name is actually not allowed. The labels with long chemical names and no information in parenthesis, are following the legal standard; it does not mean that the product is any less safe.
The worst offenders are the labels that do not use any of the legally required INCI names, listing only familar food and plant names on the ingredient panel. These labels are misleadng and as such do a disservice to the industry and consumers. For example,hundreds of ingredients are made from coconut oil, but without the INCI name on the label, the consumer has no way to know what the actual ingredients are in the product. Truth in labeling is one of the foundations of the natural products industry. It is time to start demanding truth in labeling from all personal care brands.
The bottom line is that personal care products are the result of chemistry. Even the simplest soap is made by combining oil and a caustic chemical, sodium hydroxide (lye). While we would never use lye on our skin, most of us safely use soap every day of our lives. What we need most is be be educated so that we know which chemical ingredients are safer, greener choices.

Basically, from 1995 through 1998, dual labeling of botanical ingredients required companies to give the common name first, with the Latin name in parentheses. But in 1999, the order changed to require companies to provide the Latin name of the botanical first, with the common name in parentheses.

Also note that I refer to natural ingredients, not the chemicals that you bring up—which, as you state, do not contain other names in parentheses. Exactly my point: one potential way to avoid them! However, consumers should always do research about ingredients they're unfamiliar with to get more information, as unfamiliar ingredients aren't necessarily bad ingredients.

We can agree that truth in labeling and consumer education are both crucial. Thanks for your support of the natural products industry.